Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/2/2018

Five issues to watch at the 2018 Florida Legislature

Bullies, texting, hurricanes and juvenile detention facilities are some of the issues that will get attention when the Florida Legislature’s session begins Jan. 9. Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders always have different spending priorities and it's a high-stakes election year, so the annual battle of the budget could have greater significance in 2018. More from the Times/Herald.

Florida utilities eye recovery of Hurricane Irma costs

Florida utilities sped recovery times in the face of September's storms, but now utilities are looking at the costs and determining how best to be prepared for the next disruptions. More from Utility Dive.

SpaceX leases Cape Canaveral home for Crew Dragon

In a sign that astronaut launches from Florida are growing nearer, SpaceX recently leased an Air Force facility where it will prepare Dragon capsules to fly crews to the International Space Station. More from Florida Today.

Oh snap: Cold triggers jump in gas prices in Florida

This week’s cold front isn’t just bringing out sweaters, it’s driving up prices at the pump. The spike, said gas tracker GasBuddy.com, is because of a combination of oil prices and cold weather. State gas prices were $2.44 per gallon on Monday, up 9 cents over the week. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Recreational marijuana is officially legal in California. Is Florida next?

In California, many people began 2018 by lining up to buy recreational marijuana. With Massachusetts up next to start selling recreational pot, legalization advocates believe Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware could be the next states to pass recreational marijuana laws. But what about Florida? More from WTSP and the Naples Daily News.

Technology Trends
New Tech Leads to Spike in Credit Card Skimmers

Across Florida the number of credit card skimmers found at gas stations is exploding as criminals are emboldened by new technology that makes it even easier to steal credit card information from unsuspecting motorists.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Business Profile
Fitlife Foods

Fitlife Foods — which specializes in healthy, made-from-scratch prepared meals and snacks — will focus on growing the production capability of its 100,000-square-foot culinary center in Plant City, as well as providing delivery service to more markets in Florida.